In Brief: Capital & IT News

Here are other highlights from the Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee meeting on Tuesday.

Successful Fire Drill at County Building
The Will County Office Building held its first full fire drill under the current facilities director, resulting in a safe and orderly evacuation in 3 minutes and 40 seconds, well under the five-minute target for a building of its size. Facilities Director Bill Fern credited the volunteer “safety monitors” from each department for ensuring their areas were clear.

Vintage County Bathrooms May Get a Facelift
Following comments from Board Member Judy Ogalla that the women’s bathrooms in the County Office Building are “horrible” and appear unchanged since 1964, Facilities Director Bill Fern said his team would explore cosmetic upgrades. While a full renovation is cost-prohibitive due to the age of the fixtures and terrazzo floors, Fern said in-house staff could handle painting the walls and dividers to improve their appearance.

Wi-Fi Upgrade Coming to County Building
The committee learned that a significant wireless network upgrade is currently in progress at the County Office Building. New, faster access points are being installed in locations determined by a professional wireless survey to ensure full and reliable coverage throughout the facility. The upgrade is expected to provide a “remarkable improvement” in connectivity.